Man Accused of Trying to Run Over Cop

Three people have been charged in connection with a police chase that police say included an attempt to strike a motorcycle police officer on Ernest Barrett Parkway and George Busbee Parkway in Kennesaw around 7:30 a.m. Friday.

One of the three arrested people is a felon from Marietta.

A Cobb County motorcycle officer was nearly run down after attempting to stop a white 1994 Honda Civic on Barrett Parkway, Cobb police spokesman Officer Mike Bowman said.

The officer activated his blue lights and siren, but the Honda did not yield, then made a U-turn and accelerated head-on with the police motorcycle, Bowman said in a news release.

The motorcycle officer swerved away and avoided being hit, then called off the pursuit because of the danger, Bowman said.

Other officers responded, spotted a Honda Civic and started a chase when the car failed to stop for police. The Honda raced north on George Busbee Parkway, ran a red light at the intersection of Busbee and Chastain Road, and crashed into another vehicle, Bowman said.

The driver of the second vehicle was not injured.

The driver of the Honda, 22-year-old Justin Clark of Canton, ran but was caught.

Clark is charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer for the confrontation with the motorcycle officer, multiple traffic offenses, fleeing and attempting to elude, obstruction, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. His bail was set at $25,000.

A shot was fired during the pursuit, but investigators believe it was an accident when one of the Honda's two passengers tried to get a handgun out of his pants.

Jonathan Earwood, 22, of Canton is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Ashley Caudle, 28, of Marietta also is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

All three are being held at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the police Crimes Against Persons Unit at 770-499-3945.